Caster mounting



Feb. 25, 1947. c. R. NALLE CAS`TER MOUNTING Filed Nov. 12, 1943 PatentedFeb. 25, 1947 UNIT ED STATE S y PATENT OFF IC ,E

CASTER MOUNTING" Charles.l R.' Nalle,t Philadelphia, Pa. Application.November 12, 1943, Serial No. 510,023'

l Y This' inventlonrelates to4 casters` for articles ofifurniture, andAother pieces of household, commercial and institutional equipment, etc.,andA particularly to adjustable casters of the general typedisclosed inmyprior United States Letters Patent No. 2,335,074, dated November23,1943.

The caster structure disclosedin the aforesaid patent, and others of itskind', is adaptedk primarily for use with articlesfprovided`witl'woodenl which the same caster'structure may be used in hollow legs,formed of metal' orA other suitabley material, with which any oftlievarious articles to be supported may be equipped.

As shown in the accompanying drawing;

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal'sectional View of a hollow l'eg of anarticle to be supported, with the adapter of the present invention showntherein asv supporting` a. caster structure of the same generalcharacter as that disclosed in the aforesaid prior patent;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal'sectionalview through theV caster structure perse, and the adapter in accordance. with the present. invention;`

Fig. 3. is a detachedY perspective/view of the caster structure. andthe.adapter;` Fig. Llis a detailed perspective View of oneof the elementsofthe adapter shown inFig, 2;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar'to Fig. l1.illustrating a modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a view,vs imilar to Fig..2`,`vof the modi-f lied form oftheinvention shown in Fig..5; and

Fig. 7 is a detachedv perspective view of apair of elements. forming thebase member of the adapter shell, shownin Figs. 5.-and 6.

As shown in the aforesaid prior patent; and in Figsl and 50i the presentdrawngthe prie mary; caster `structure A includes a roller, .glideaorother iioor engaging element I,.mounted onthe lower endu of a casterstem 2.V The caster stem 2 passesupwardly intotan elongated neck 3.which forms,V part of. av stemsocket 5..

The stem socket 5 is'provided, at4 its' lower end, with a head member 4,whichpreferably is formed as. an integralpart of the elongated neck 3'.The head 4. of. the primary-"casterl structure A is. adapted.torlieia'djacent. a base member 6 of' the;adapterB,` whichforinsy thebasis of the present' invention;

The adapt-er B Jisadaptedto fit snugly within the lower end of antubular or other hollow leg C, within which the adapter is adapted to befrictionally' held by means'ofresilient arms l; 1, ofy the' adapterL B,exertinga radially outward force againstV the inner wall c of the hollowleg C;

The-arms '1, 1, in the present instance, are secured, at theirloweriends, to the base member B'of the adapter B, bythe extremities 8,8 of the arms "If, 'I being bentoutwardly; then downwardly around `andthen inwardly under the marginal edge por-tionvof an annular ange or ribIB formed on the base member 6, whereby the outwardly bent portionsfof`said arm extremities 8-, 8 afford an annular shoulder 9 onv which thelower end of the tubing` of the leg C rests.

At theiry upper ends, the arms 1, 'I are integrally united, in thepresent instance, and collectivelyfform aninverted-cup-like body I I.The

l cup-like body IVI isadapted to provide a recess or cavity I2, in4axially spaced relation to theV base member 6, for` the reception of theupper end of the elongated neck 3 of the caster stern socket 5.

rEhe neck @passes through a central aperture I4? formed in thebasemember 6 of the adapter shell-1B, which latterfis formed by said basemember 6, the arms 1, 'I and the body II, collectively.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the head 4 of theprimarycasterstructure A.is provided with a series of prongs I5. These,Aprongs, preferably, arecircularly andr uniformly spaced about the axisofthe neck 3.' The prongs I5 are adapted to project` upwardly into aseries of openings Iii-whiclrarel formed in the underside of the base 6ofv the shell B, andi whichv are correspondingly spaced circularly aboutthe axisof the aperture I4, forf primarily maintaining the primarycaster structure A andl shellB in a predetermined relationship,lagainstu relative rotation.

As shownin Figs; land 2, the primary caster structure A-` is removablyretained within the adapten shellr B, whilef in the structure shownin-Figs. 51and 6; the primary caster structure A is xedly retainedwithin the adapter shell B.

Asshown in' Fig; 2, the base 6" of the adapter Bisprovidedi with anupturnedl annular flange 2U', on the-upper edgev of` which rests a splitring 2l. The ring 2l is housed withina cage 22, betweensaid'A upper"edge of the flange 20 and an inturneds flange or` earsk 22a formed onthe upper end ofthecage 22. The lower end ofthe cage 22.` is providedwith an inturned ange ZZband fits snugly around the iiange 20 of thebase 6. The upper edge of the flange 20 is peened or up-` set outwardly,at a number of circularly spaced places 23, over the :dange 22b, tosecure the cagev axially applied force, the neck 3 ofthe primaryi casterstructure A maybe moved through and relative to the ring 2I,'either toplace the neck of the primary caster structure. A in proper, positionwithin the adaptershellB, or to remove the neck 3 therefrom.

In the structure shown'in Figs. 5 and 6, the base 6 of the adapter B iscomposed of a lower annular plate 3a, in which the prong openings IS areformed, and a superposed plateb. The central portion of the upper plate5b is offset axially to Y provide a circular upwardly and Yinwardlyradially converging wall 215, above the circularly spaced openin-gs I3,i6 in the lower plate 6a.. The points or tips 26 of the prongs lareadapted tobear against thev tapered wall 25, when inserting the neck 3of the primary caster structnre A in they adapter shell B, after which arelatively sharp blow applied to the primary caster struc- Y ture A, ina direction axially thereof, will cause the tips 26 ofthe prongs l5 tobe bent inwardly, by the tapered wall-,25 ofthe plate 6b, therebyeffecting a V,clinching of the prongs l5 over the upper'fedgesofthe-openings I6, I3 of the lower plate 6a withinr the base 6.` In thismanner the Y primary caster structure A and the adapter Bv arepermanently connected together as a unit.

It will be understood thatthe assembling of the adapter Band the primarycaster structure A` may be effected prior to such assemblage being`inserted into theY lower end of -the hollow leg C, or-the adapter B may:first be driven into the lower end of the Yhollow leg C and the primaryY The caster structure A is lthen placed in posi#Y tion with the neck 3thereof inserted in the central opening Ui ofthe base 6 of the adapterBand advanced axially until the head 4 of the caster structure A isadjacent the under side of the base 6 of the adapter B. The head 4 isthen circularly adjusted until `the prongs l51ontljie head 4 arerespectively ^aligned with the openings I3 in the base 6, whereuponuthewhole of the structure A is advanced axially of the neck 3. Y

Y In the case of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the axial advancementofthe casterstructure A is continued until the head 4 thereof contacts`with the under side lof the base 6 of theadapter B, after which thesplit ringl functions to grip l the neck 3 and retain it in the adapterB against accidental displacementof the caster structure q Arelative tothe adapter B.

lasthe prongs L5 on the head Yl of the caster strucl' ture Aienter theopenings .I6 in the base 6 of Y `the adapterB,l the tips 26 ofthe prongsivengage f 75 the convergent annular surface 25 of the upper I y VInrthecase of the structureshown in Fig. 6. V'

plate 6b of the base 6,before the head1 of the caster structure Aengages the under side of the lower plate 6a of the base 6, whereupon asharp blow struck against the under side of the caster structure A,axially thereof,elfects clinching of the prongs I5 and the seating ofthe head 4 against the base 6. Y

In either instance, thestem 2 of the caster structure' A mayfy beinserted'in;l the clutching mechanism ofthe adjustable caster structureA, either before or after the caster structure A is installed in theadapter B, preferably afterwards.

I claim:

vl. A caster structure for supporting an article said'base member, and aprongr onone-of saidY members projecting intoY an opening lformed in.

the other of said members to maintain said shell and socket in apredetermined relation to each other.

2. A caster structure for supporting an article having a, hollow leg,comprising a'shell insertable in said leg and including'a base member atone end and a recess in'axially spaced relation thereto, a caster sternrsocket including an elongated neck projecting through an apertureVformed in said base member and into Ysaidrecess, a head member on saidsocket at one end of said neck and lying adjacent said base member, anda prong on oneof said members projecting into an opening formed in theother of said members to maintain said shell and socket in apredeterminedV relation to each other.

3. A caster structure for supporting an article having a hollow. leg,comprising a shell insertable in said leg and including `a base memberatone end and an axially spaced `bearing cavity at its opposite end, acaster stem socket Vincluding an elongated neck adapted to projectthrough Y I an aperture formed in said base member and into said cavity,said Ysocket also including a head member integral with'said neck andadapted to lie adjacent said base member, and a series of prongscircularly'spaced around coinciding axes of isaid neck and said apertureand respec tively: projecting from one of said members into V a.corresponding series of,V openings formed in the other of saidmembersjto maintain said shell and socket in a predetermined relationto' each other, Y

4. A caster structure forsupportingA an article` having a hollow leg,comprising a shell insertable in said leg and including a base member.atV

one end and an axially spaced bearing cavity at its opposite end,'acaster stem socket and including an elongated neck adapted rto projectthrough an aperture formed in said base member and including aheadmember integral with said neck and adapted to lie adjacent said basemember, a prong on one of said members projecting into an'openingformedrin the other'of Y said members to maintain said socket againstrotation relative to said shell; -and means carried by said base memberand engageabl'e with a portion of said socket VV,for retaining saidshellV and socket in predeterminedV axial relation to each other.

5. A caster structure for supporting an article having a hollowy leg,comprising a shell insertable in said-leg andincluding a basemember atonel end and an axially spaced bearing 'cavity at the opposite end, acaster stem socket including an elongated neck projecting through anaperture formed in said base member and into said cavity, a head memberon said socket adjacent said base member, a prong on one of said membersprojecting into an opening formed in the other of said members tomaintain said socket against rotation relative to said shell, and meanscarried by said base member and engageable with said neck for retainingsaid shell and said socket in predetermined axial relation to eachother.

6.v A caster structure for supporting an articlehaving a hollow leg,comprising a shell insertable in said leg and including a base member atone end and an axially spaced bearing cavity at the opposite end, acaster stem socket including an elongated neck projecting through anaperture formed in said base ymember and into said cavity, a head memberonsaid socket ad-` jacent said base member, a prong on one of saidmembers projecting into an opening formed in the other of said membersto maintain said socket against rotation relative to said shell, and avsplit ring of rectangular cross section carried by said base member andencircling said neck with the inner peripheral suriaceof said ring inflat frictional contact with the outer' surfacev of said neck tomaintain said socket in predetermined axial relation to said shell.

7. A caster structure for supporting an article having a hollow leg,comprising a shell insertable in said leg and including a base member, acaster stem socket projecting through an aperture formed in said basemember and including a head member adjacent said base member, a seriesof projecting through aligned apertures respectively 9. An adapter for acaster .structurefor supA porting an article having a hollow leg, saidadapter comprising a shell insertable in said leg and including a basemember composed of va pair of annular superposed plates respectivelyprovided with axially aligned apertures and a series of openings formedin the lowermost of said plates and circularly spaced around saidaperture therein, and an upwardly radially converging wall formed on theuppermost of said plates above the openings in said lowermost plate forthe purpose described. f

1.0. An adapter for a caster structure adapted to support an articlehaving a hollow leg and wherein said caster structure includes anelongated neck and at least one prong spaced laterally therefrom forpreventing bodillr rotation ci said neck within said hollow leg; saidadapter comprising a shell formed to enter said hollow leg neck and atleast one laterally spaced additionalv aperture for receiving saidprong, and means within said shell for gripping said neck to preventaccidental withdrawal of said prong from said additional aperture insaid base.

l1. An adapter for a caster structure adapted to support an articlehaving a hollow leg and wherein saidcaster structure includes anelongated neck and at least voneprong spaced laterally therefrom forpreventing bodily rotation of said neck within said hollow leg; saidadapter comprising a shell formed to enter said hollow leg and includinga base at one end of the shell, said base having a central aperture forreceiving said neck and at least one laterally spaced additionalaperture for receiving said prong, means within said shell for Vgrippingsaid neck to prevent accidental removal thereof from the central Yaperture in said base, and means Within said shell for clinching saidprong relative to said base upon forcing said neck axially into saidshell after contact of said prong with said clinching means.

CHARLES R. NALLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number y Name Date 1,620,658 Herold Mar. 15, 19272,227,271 Noelting Deo. 31, 1940 1,051,705 Diss Jan. 28, 1913 1,022,056Bassick Apr. 2, 1912 759,408 Tonini May 10, 1904 659,857 Nickel Oct. 16,1900 1,713,656 Herold May 21, 1929

